In 1958, Ben Nelson joined a doo wop group, The Five Crowns. Later that same year, The Drifters' manager fired the members of the group and replaced them with The Five Crowns, who had performed several engagements with The Drifters. He co-wrote the first hit by the new version of The Drifters, "There Goes My Baby" (1959). He also sang lead, using his birth name, on "Save the Last Dance for Me," a song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, "Dance With Me," "This Magic Moment," "I Count the Tears," and other The Drifters hits.
In 1960 he left the group after failing to gain a salary increase and a fairer share of the group's royalties. At this point he assumed the more memorable stage name Ben E. King in preparation for a solo career. Remaining on Atlantic, King scored his first solo hit with the stylish, Latin-tinged ballad "Spanish Harlem" (1961). "Stand by Me" was his next recording. "Stand by Me", written by King along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller was voted one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. "Stand by Me" and "Spanish Harlem" were named as two of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and were both also given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.
King's records continued to place well on the pop charts until 1963, when British pop bands began to dominate the popular music scene. His hits after 1963 were "What is Soul?" (1967), "Supernatural Thing, part 1" (1975), and the re-issue in 1986 of "Stand by Me" following the song's use as the theme music to the movie of the same name.
Young Boy Blue
Ben E. King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make believe I'm kissing you but oh
I can't kid my aching heart 'cos
My heart knows we're still apart and
Each night is like a thousand years
Oh-oh since I got these young boy blues
I wanna cry when I hear your name
If I cry I feel ashamed so
I keep those tears inside and
Each night is like a thousand years
Oh-oh I can't lose these young boy blues
Oh-oh don't know where to go
Don't know what to do
I'm so lost and lonely
Since I lost you
Every time I kiss somebody new I
Oh make believe I'm kissing you but oh
I can't kid my aching heart 'cos
My heart knows we're still apart and
Each night is like a thousand years
Oh-oh since I got these young boy blues
Oh-oh now don't know where to go
Don't know what to do
I'm so lost and lonely
Since I lost you
Every time I kiss somebody new
Oh make believe I'm kissing you but oh
I can't kid my aching heart 'cos
My heart knows we're still apart and
Each night is like a thousand years
Oh-oh
I can't lose these young boy blues
Oh-oh each night is like a thousand years
Oh-oh since I got these young boy blues
Yeah aw ooh each night is like a thousand years
Oh-oh can't lose these young boy blues
My now oh-oh-oh
The lyrics to "Young Boy Blues" by Ben E. King express the pain and longing of unrequited love. The singer confesses that every time they kiss somebody new, they make believe that they are kissing the person they love, but their heart knows the truth. They are still separated from their love, and each night feels like a thousand years. The singer is so lost and lonely since losing their love, and they don't know where to go or what to do. They keep their pride as a guide, not wanting to show their true emotions and cry.
The repetition of "each night is like a thousand years" emphasizes the deep ache of longing for someone who is not there. The use of the phrase "young boy blues" may suggest that the singer is young and inexperienced in matters of the heart, but it could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the universal experience of heartbreak. The song's melody is simple and melancholic, adding to the sense of longing and sadness expressed in the lyrics.
Overall, "Young Boy Blues" is a poignant expression of unrequited love and the pain and longing that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I kiss somebody new I
Even though I may try to move on with someone else, I still think of you when I kiss them.
Make believe I'm kissing you but oh
I pretend that the person I am kissing is you, but it is not the same.
I can't kid my aching heart 'cos
I cannot fool my hurting heart.
My heart knows we're still apart and
My heart acknowledges that we are no longer together.
Each night is like a thousand years
Each night feels like an eternity, as I am missing you more and more.
Oh-oh since I got these young boy blues
I have been feeling this way since you left me.
I wanna cry when I hear your name
Hearing your name reminds me of you and makes me want to cry.
If I cry I feel ashamed so
I feel embarrassed to cry, so I try to resist the urge.
I let my pride be my guide
I try to rely on my pride to help me through the pain.
I keep those tears inside and
I try to conceal my emotions and hold back my tears.
Oh-oh I can't lose these young boy blues
I cannot shake off these feelings of loss and heartbreak.
Oh-oh don't know where to go
I do not know what to do next, since I am so lost without you.
Don't know what to do
I feel directionless and uncertain about what steps to take next in my life.
I'm so lost and lonely
I feel adrift and alone without you.
Since I lost you
Ever since you left me, my world has been turned upside down.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JEROME POMUS, PHIL SPECTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@donaldmorrow3096
Anyone needing to be reminded of how masterful a soul singer this guy Ben E. King was should loop the hell out of this masterwork.
@Osei592
A True Classic!!! Thank yuh Mr. King!!! I wish I was born in this time, but God put everyone in a certain time zone for a reason. 🇬🇾🇬🇾🇬🇾
@alexmlinar9300
Egads. Last comments from this one are 2 years back. Funny what brings us around. Found The Honeydrippers Vol 1 at a record store. Same LP I bought in ‘84 when I was 21. Man this is good stuff.
@royalvalentine1019
rest in peace... ben e king👑 my goal was to meet you before you passed, unfortunately my goal wasnt reached. I was raised up to his songs and im still listening to them in 2015❤ love this man. And im glad he made it to heaven...
@aidenmartinez3802
Yeah I want to meet him but he already died
@JulianMassan
17 years old and I love listening to this music my generation just doesn't know what great music is
@eli_void3749
B.E, was fabulous, but can you hear that piano. My God.
@johnrichardson5684
hahahaha the piano goes a bit over the top hehehe..still Ben ignores it like the true genius he is
@loisweiss6678
my man is singing the hell out of this song
@hotrodbob1118
I agree! He sang the hell out of every song he ever sang! RIP Ben E.